I agree the environazi’s are always part of the problem yet I am told the refineries , prior to the last one being constructed in 1978, have expanded 10 fold since then in size. The EPA paper dam didn’t take into account the property that refineries were already on being used vs new locations and all new refineries. Not sure if that is true and state for the record I have no personal knowledge that is a fact . The link I posted too BBC here on this thread....
http://consumerist.com/consumer/features/why-is-gas-so-freakin-expensive-263887.php
....is a pretty good read on the matter, albeit from the net and unfounded as are our comments here.
But I am grateful for the information and thoughts on the matter !
Stay safe !
They have expanded, but no where near that much. But neither has demand.
Total throughput has gone up, not as much as demand has grown but fuel production is close.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/wgirius24.htm
Also, the refineries have been upgraded so that more product like gasoline and diesel is produced from the same amount of crude and less "leftovers" like petroleum coke and residual oil.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/wgfrpus24.htm
A good basic read on that is part of:
The Truth About Oil and Gasoline: An API Primer
http://www.energytomorrow.org/energy_issues/truth_about_oil_gasoline_primer.pdf